There were 3 private dwellings in Lettery according to the census of that year. The houses were constructed of stone, brick or concrete walls and house 2 had slate, iron or tiles for roofing and the houses 1 and 3 had thatch, wood or other perishable materials. All the houses were 2nd class dwellings and had 2 rooms and 3 windows in the front. The out-offices and farm-steadings return (Form B2) shows that there were a total of 5 out buildings in the townland at that time consisting of a stable, 3 cow houses and a piggery. The enumerator’s abstract return (form N) shows that there were a total of 12 people, 5 male and 7 female. The enumerator was Const. Martin Gilmore.

The head of the Lee family was Patrick (68) and he was married to Margret (71) and they had been married for 36 years and in that time they had had 4 children and 2 of those had survived. They shared the house with their daughter, Mary (35) and 2 servants, John Dooley (17) and Margret Connelly (14). All were Roman Catholic and John was born in Dublin City while all the others were born in Co. Galway. All, except John, spoke both Irish and English and only Mary, John and Margret Connelly could read and write. Patrick was a farmer, Mary was a farmer’s daughter and John and Margret Connelly were farm servants. They all lived in a 2 roomed, 2nd class dwelling and they had a stable, a cow house and a piggery. Patrick Lee was the landholder.

The head of this Lee family was Martin (31) and had been married to Bridget (35) for 1 year. Both were born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. Both spoke both Irish and English but only Bridget could read and write. Martin was a farmer. They lived in a 2 roomed, 2nd class dwelling and Patrick Lee was the landholder.

The head of the O’Brien family was the widow Honor (70) and she shared the house with 3 of her children, Martin (32), Bridget (36) and Anne (28) and a nephew, Anthony Conroy (6). All were born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. All spoke both Irish and English Martin could read only, Anne could read and write and the other members of the family could not read. Martin was a farmer and Bridget and Anne were farmer’s daughters. They lived in a 2 roomed, 2nd class dwelling and they had 2 cow houses. Honor O’Brien was the landholder.

The 1901 census for Lettery shows that there were 2 houses at that time and both were listed as being private dwellings. Both were constructed of stone, brick or concrete walls and thatch, wood or other perishable materials for roofing. Both were 2nd class dwellings and had 2 rooms and 3 windows in the front. The enumerator’s abstract shows that there were a total of 7 people living there, 2 male and 5 female. The enumerator for the area was Const. Thomas Tuohy.

The head of this family was Honor (51) and she was a widow. She shared the house with 3 of her children, Bridget (30), Anne (19) and Martin (20). All were born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. All spoke both Irish and English but only Anne could read and write. Honor was a farmer, Bridget and Anne were farmer’s daughters and Martin was a farmer’s daughter. They lived in a 2 roomed, 2nd class dwelling and Honor OBrien was the landholder.

The head of the Lee family was Margaret (50) who was married but no husband was listed here at that time. She lived with 2 of her children, Martin (22) and Anne (21). All were born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. All spoke both Irish and English but only Martin and Anne could read and write. Margaret was a farmer, Martin, a farmer’s son and Anne, a farmer’s daughter. They all lived in a 2 roomed, 2nd class dwelling and Margaret Lee was the landholder.

The Griffith’s Valuation (1847-1864) shows that the Directors of the Law Life Assurance Co. were the main immediate lessors in the area. They had 891 acres, 2 roods and 8 perches of land that they leased to three tenants. Patrick Mangan (sic) paid £4 for a share of the land and 5s for buildings, Owen O’Brien paid £8 for some land and 5s for a house and office and John Kineavy paid £8 for land and 7s for buildings. In turn, Patrick Mangan (sic), leased some of that land and a house and office to Bridget Mulkerrin for £4 for the land and 5s for the buildings. There was also a vacant building with an annual ratable valuation of 5s belonging to the Directors of the Law Life Assurance Co. There were also 59 acres, 3 roods and 24 perches of water.

The 1670 Down Survey names for this area were Killkeran, Kiltate, Litterapeperom and Lecame. The 1641 owner was Murragh McArt O’Flahorty (sic), a Catholic and the 1670 owner was the Protestant, Sir Thomas Meredith.

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